Planooraph co



P. ANDERSON.

` SAFETY CAN. APPLICATION FILED MAY I3, 1915.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. 4

Tm; coLuMBlA PLANQURAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. C.

P. ANDERSON.

SAFETY CAN.

APPLICATION FILED MA1/13.1916.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I lll THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

cierran srn'rns PATENT creeren.'

PAI-IR ANDERSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO DOVER-STAMPING' & l Y

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

SAFETY-CAN.

Application filed May 13, 1916. Serial No. 97,413.

or other liquids which give 0E inflammable gases. The invention has forits object the .providing lof a can which has automatic means forclosing the spout and keeping the same closed in whatever position thecan may be placed, and requiring positive action to open the closure inorder to pour out the liquid.

Due to its inflammable nature it has been found necessary to storegasolene in receptacles having tight-fitting stoppers and the ordinarytype of can used in garages and like places, where Such liquids areused, cornmonly has a cork or wood plug. This plug,

unless driven in, is never very tight and as a result there is apt to bea leakage of gas, or in the event of the can being overturned, it iscomparatively easy for the plug to be dislodged. With this in mind, Ihave provided a can in whichv there can be no leakage of gas and in caseof the can being overturned the contents will be securely confinedunless the closure is opened. Utilizing the theory that flame will notpass through wire gauze to explode a gas, I have provided an additionalsafeguard against the possibili-v ties of combustion as the liquid ispoured out by means of a strainer through which the liquid vmust passwhen the spout `is opened.

My invention andthe particular features thereof will best be understoodVfrom'the drawings, in which-` Figure 1 is a vertical section of a canembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a'top view.

Fig. 3 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1 showing the b-ail stops. l

A is the body of the can which as shown is cylindrical in shape with aflat bottom B and a top C which is convex or dome-like in form. The topC is provided with a closure C preferably made of brass located at theapex of the dome. To the body of the can is fastened the bail D by meansof Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Aug. 12,

ears d.' Each ear is provided with a projection or lip Z1 limiting thefall ofthe bail D by gravity toward the side from which the closure capis operated; This is for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Theclosure o is inthe form of a flanged spout, being fastenedv to the topof theV can by means of the anged portion c1. The v spout portion c2serves also as a filling opening.V The spout casting has two wings c3which form a casing for the automatic vclosing mechanism. The Vto-p ofthe spout is slightly beveled as at c4 and provides aseat for the cap E.This lcap E lits over the beveled portion of the spout andY for thispurpose is recessed vas` at e. is a circulargasket e1 which is held inplace by a washer e2 supported by a screw e3.

Pivoted to the hinge pin f mounted in the To fit this recess wings c3 isthe handle F.V The inner end of the handle F is'provided with asegmentalv gear f1 locatedon its upper surface. At the top of the cap Ethere is a projection e4 by which the cap is pivot'ed by means of thepin e5 to the lever arm G. HThis' lever arm Gr projects forwardVslightly beyond the edge of the cap as at g to limit the rocking 0f thecap about its pivot. The'lever arm is curved as at g1 and is pivotedupon a hinge pin g2 mounted between the wingsc3. On the under side Vofthe inner end of this lev'enarm is a segmental gear g3 which'isadaptedto mesh with the gear f1, the location of the hinge pins f, g?being arranged accordingly for this purpose. cap normally in a closedposition a heavy bronze ASpring H is loopedover the lever arm To holdthe Gr as at 7L and Wound around the aXis'of said lever arm, the endsbearing against the spout casting in the corners formed by the Wings c3.

To open the cap the handle F is raised Y against the force of thespring. the cap remaining open `only so long as the'handle 1s' held inits elevated position and when released, 'the force of the springautomatically returns the cap to its closed position. Inas-V much as theforce ofthe spring is very great,`

it `isfound somewhat difiicult'to raise. and

Vhold the lever handle F without additional assistance. To this end thebail D is utilized in its normalposition Ywhen resting against the stopsor projections d1 so. that its position, to which it will naturally fallby gravity, closely corresponds to or registers with that in which thehandle F is normally held by the spring H; and thus both the bail andthe handle may be grasped together by the hand and a sufiicient graspinghold is obtained to lift the handle easily and hold the cap open againstthe force of said spring. Near the bottom of the can is a suitablehandle K to facilitate raising and tipping the can to pour out itscontents.

The inner end of the spout 02 extends downward into the can as at c5 andhas exterior threading c6. By means of a screw coupling J, which hasthreaded connection with the threading c6 of the interior proj ection ofthe spout, a strainer preferably of brass gauze J1 is attached to thespout. This strainer extends vertically downward to a point near thebottom of the can, a strap y' being placed within the can through whichthe strainer passes to hold it in a perpendicular position. They upperend of the strainer flanges outwardly as at jl to fit about the end ofthe spout and the screw coupling J has an inside shoulder J2 whichclamps this edge of the strainer tightly to the spout Y The advantagesofthis invention will particularly appeal to Vthose skilled in the art,for so far as I am aware the present device has never been employed toprevent combustion of the iniamma'ble gases. I do not intend to limitmyself to the precise construction shown for many variations may beemployed and yet be within the scope of my invention.

Vhat claim as my invention is l. A safety can consisting of a closedreceptacle comprising a top, a spout fixed to said top and havingintegral wingsy at one side thereof, a handle lever pivotally mountedbetween said wings and having a geared portion, a bent lever arm alsomounted between said wings and also having a geared portion meshing withthe geared portion. of said lever, a closing cap for said spout carriedby said lever arm and a spring co-acting with said lever-arm and levertol hold said cap normally closed and to, retain saidVv lever in alowered position from which it will be lifted when said cap is to beremoved p to open said spout.

2. A safety can consisting of a closed receptacle comprising a top, aspout having a flanged portion by which it is fixed to said top andhaving integral wingsat one' side thereof, a handle lever pivotallymounted between said wings and having ageared portion, a bent lever armalso mounted between said wings and also'having a geared portion meshingvwith the geared portion of said 3. A safety ca-n consisting of a closedre ceptacle comprising a top, a spout fixed to said top and havingintegral wings at one side thereof, a handle lever pivotally mountedbetween said wings having a geared portion, a bent lever arm alsomounted between said wings and also having a geared portion meshing withthe geared portion of said lever, a closing cap for said spout pivotallyattached to said lever arm, means for limiting the rocking movement ofsaid lever armV relative to said cap, and a spring co-acting. with saidlever-arm and lever to hold said cap normally closed and to retain saidlever in a lowered position from which it will be lifted when said capis to be removed to open said spout.

4. A safety can consisting of a closed receptacle comprising a top, aspout fixed to said top and having integral wings at one `side thereof,a handle lever pivotally mounted between, said wings and having a gearedportion, a bent lever arm also mounted between said wings and alsohaving a geared portion meshing with the geared portion of said lever, aclosing cap for said spout carried by said lever arm, a spring co-actingwith said lever-arm and lever to hold said cap normally closed and toretain said lever in a lowered position from which it will be wardmovement of said bail byv gravity so as to hold it in a position closelycorresponding to that of the normal position of said handle lever sothat both may be conveniently grasped by one hand and thus be liftedtogether.

5. A safety can consistingof a closed receptacle havin-g a spout,combined with a spring-pressed cap for closing said spout, a leverhandle connected with said cap and by the operation of which leverhandle said cap may be opened against the stress of its closing spring,a pivoted bail attached to said can and stop means for limiting thedownward movement of said bail by gravity so as to hold it in a positionclosely cori-.esponding to that of the normal position of said leverhandle so that both may be con veniently lifted together. i

PAI-IR ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained fbrve cents each, by addressingthel Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

